Connector for use in single and double breast pumping

ABSTRACT

The connector of the present invention provides fewer connections and attachments to a breastpump configured for expressing breast milk from both of a woman&#39;s breasts simultaneously, thereby facilitating easier use of the breast pump and yielding fewer pieces for the user to carry or misplace. The connector includes a manifold with four ports. Individual tubes extend from three of the four ports and each has a plug member. One tube engages with a vacuum source and the remaining two tubes engage with a breastshield assembly for double breast pumping. When single breastpumping is desired, one of the two tubes connected to the breastpump assemblies is disconnected and engaged with the dock port of the manifold.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to breastpumps, and more specifically to abreastpump system or assembly which can be used in both single anddouble pumping modes of operation. In particular, the invention includesa connector, which permits a variety of configurations to enable use ofa breastpump in either single or double pumping modes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Breastmilk pumps are well-known, and generally comprise a hood, orshield, which fits over the breast. A vacuum pump is connected to theshield for generating an intermittent vacuum (i.e., negative pressure)within the shield. A receptacle is provided in communication with theshield for receiving the breast milk expressed during operation of thepump.

The action of the pump creates an intermittent vacuum within the shield,which serves to create an environment reminiscent of suckling and thus,causes expression of breast milk from the mother's breast. The milk soexpressed is ordinarily collected in a bottle or other container forstorage and later use. Such breast pumps are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,857,051; 5,007,899; and 5,071,403 for example.

It is also well-known to provide a breast pump which can be used in bothsingle (one breast) and double (both breasts) modes of operation, i.e.,expressing breast milk from one breast at a time or simultaneously. Forexample, Medela, Inc., to which the present invention is assigned,provides a multi-port connector for use with its commercialized CLASSICvacuum pump apparatus. In a double-pumping mode, two airlines connect toa pair of ports in a connector, which in turn is connected to a pump.The airlines are individually connected to two breast pump assemblies(to convey changes in pressure to the connected breast shields). Twoadapters are further provided, each containing a milk barrier to preventmilk from reaching the vacuum pump. Each adapter is releasably attachedto a respective breast pump assembly through a threaded engagement. Thisarrangement using the connector including two adapters of the foregoingtype is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,403.

With the above noted configuration, single pumping is achieved byremoving one of the tubes from the connector to disconnect thebreastshield. A plug is inserted into the joint or receptacle from whichthe tube was removed so that suction is achieved only in the remainingbreastshield. In using this design, the user has to disconnect the tubefrom both the shield and the joint and plug the joint to inactivate oneof the two breast shields. The suction level for single pumping can behigher due to the loss in fluid volume compared with two breast shields.The removed tubing can be misplaced or lost.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,722 is a connector for use in single and doublebreast pumping. This connector has a tubular housing with an internalwall extending across the housing interior to divide it into twochambers. One chamber has an outlet for attachment to an air tube forsingle breast pumping, while the second chamber has two outlets forattachment to two air tubes for double breast pumping.

In this configuration, when a woman wants to only pump one breast, thetube from the inactive breastshield is removed from the breast pump anda plug is inserted into the open port of the pump to close it off. Theplug may also provide for a predetermined amount of air leakage tosimulate the load of the disconnected breastshield, so that the singleshield pumping suction level is substantially the same to the doublepumping vacuum level. However, the user may accidentally tangle the twotubes, either during storage, setup, or use. Tangled tubes can also leadto a nursing mother accidentally disconnecting the incorrectbreastshield when single breast pumping is desired.

Thus, a breastpump that eliminates a significant number of connectionsand attachment parts for transition between single and double breastpumping would be considered a desired improvement in the art, therebyfacilitating easier use of a breast pump and yielding fewer parts forthe user to carry, clean, misplace or manipulate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention eliminates a significant number ofattachment parts, and the need for adapters, to provide a breast pumpwhich uses fewer connections and attachments, thereby facilitatingeasier use of the breast pump and yielding fewer pieces for the user tocarry, clean, misplace or manipulate.

A further objective is to provide a connector that is readily used ineither a single or double pumping mode through an easy and effectiveengagement of a fluid conveying device.

An aspect of the invention provides a connector including a manifold.The manifold includes a three-way passageway formed therethrough. Themanifold includes a first port, a second port, a third port and a fourthport. The first, second and third ports are in fluid communication withthe three-way passageway. A first tube is connected to and in fluidcommunication with the first port. A second tube is connected to and influid communication with the second port and a third tube is connectedto and in fluid communication with the third port. The third tube issized and shaped to be connectable to a vacuum source, and the fourthport is sized and shaped to receive one of the first tube and the secondtube and permit a predetermined amount of fluid to pass by way of aleakage path. The leakage path can be formed in the fourth port or inthe manifold.

Other embodiments of the invention include a plug member that terminateseach tube. The first tube terminates with a first plug member, thesecond tube terminates with a second plug member and the third tubeterminates with a third plug member. The third plug member is sized andshaped to be connectable to a vacuum source and the fourth port is sizedand shaped to receive one of the first plug member and the second plugmember.

Another embodiment includes a plug member within the fourth port of themanifold. One of the first tube or second tube is adapted to connect tothe plug member of the fourth port.

Other embodiments of the invention provide the first, second and thirdtubes non-removably connected to the manifold. The fourth port mayinclude an O-ring disposed therein, the O-ring including a pathwayformed thereon for permitting air to be drawn therepast. The three-waypassageway may be a T-shaped or Y-shaped passageway formed in themanifold. The plug members may engage with a respective one of the portsin a substantially fluid tight fit.

Another embodiment of the invention provides a system for breastpumpingin a single breastpumping mode or a double breastpumping mode, includinga source of intermittent vacuum. First and second breast shields areconnectable to the source of vacuum. A connector is provided whichincludes a connector body having four spaced ports, a first tubeextending from a first of the four ports with a first tube end adaptedto connect to the source of intermittent vacuum. A second tube extendsfrom a second of the four ports with a second tube end adapted toconnect to one of the first and second breast shields. A third tubeextends from a third of the four ports with a third tube end adapted toconnect to the other of the first and second breast shields. Apassageway is formed in a central body of the connector, the passagewayfluidly connecting the first, second and third tubes, and a fourth ofthe four ports adapted to receive one of the second and third tube endsand functioning to substantially seal the received tube end.

Yet other embodiments of the invention provide the first, second andthird tubes being non-removably connected to the connector body. Thepassageway may be a three-way passageway. The passageway may be aT-shaped or Y-shaped passageway. The fourth of the four ports may besubstantially sealed and provided with a predetermined amount ofleakage.

It will of course be understood that the aspects and objectives of theinvention are various, and need not be all present in any givenembodiment of the invention. The features, advantages andaccomplishments of the invention will be further appreciated andunderstood upon consideration of the following detailed description ofan embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawings,in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing objectives and advantages of the invention will be furtherunderstood upon consideration of the following detailed description ofan embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic drawing of a breast pump assembly incorporatinga connector for use in single and double breast pumping according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connector according to one embodimentof the present invention in a single pumping configuration or mode;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connector of FIG. 2 in a doublepumping configuration or mode;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a manifold and connected terminalfastener or plug for the connector according to one embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the manifold of the connectoraccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The connector of the present invention will be described herein in usewith a breastpump assembly, but it is contemplated that the connector ofthe present invention can be used in any device that may benefit fromthis type of connector.

A breastpump assembly 100 for pumping two breasts simultaneously or asingle breast shows, in FIG. 1, a vacuum pump 102, which is used togenerate a periodic change in pressure or intermittent vacuum. Thegenerated change in pressure from the pump 102 is then transmittedthrough connector 200. The connector 20 may be configured to supplychanges in pressure to breastshield assemblies 104, 106 simultaneouslyor only one of the two assemblies.

As referred to herein, vacuum is meant to denote a pressure less thanambient and in one configuration of the connector 200 is supplied to thebreast shields 108, 110, and through the breast shields applied to abreast placed therein to express milk. Reference to a tube or passagehereafter as an “air” tube or a “vacuum” tube is not intended to belimiting.

The breast shield assemblies 104, 106 may each include, in addition tothe shields 108, 110, a respective conduit structure 112, 114. Eachrespective conduit structure 112, 114, is typically provided in fluidcommunication with a collecting container, a bottle or the like, 116,118.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a connector 200 according to the illustratedembodiment of the present invention in a single pumping and a doublepumping configuration, respectively. The connector 200 includes amanifold 202. The manifold 202 is a central body including four spacedreceptacles or ports, 204, 206, 208, and 210.

The connector 200 includes three tubes, a first tube 212, a second tube216 and a third tube 220. A first tube 212 is connected to and extendsfrom port 204 and may further include a first plug member 214 at aterminal end thereof. A second tube 216 is connected to and extends fromport 206 and may further include a second plug member 218 at a terminalend thereof. A third tube 220 is connected to and extends from port 208and may further include a third plug member 222 at a terminal endthereof. Tubes 212, 216, 220 are preferably permanently affixed withinports 204, 206, 208 such that tubes 212, 216, 220 are not detachablefrom the manifold, which is considered one advantage over the prior art.

The port or dock port 210 includes a tube connector arrangement (seeFIG. 4), as disclosed and described in patent application Ser. No.11/581,210 incorporated herein by reference. The port 210 permitsconnection and disconnection of either tube 214, 216 when single breastpumping is desired. More particularly, port 210 permits connection anddisconnection of either of plug members 214, 218 when single breastpumping is desired.

Plug member 222, when engaged with an operating vacuum pump transmitschanges in pressure from the pump to the manifold 202 and through tubes212 and 216 to one or both of the breastpump assemblies. When singlebreast pumping is desired, one of either tube 212 or tube 216 isdisconnected from the respective breastpump assembly and docked orengaged with port 210. The plug 214 or 218 (depending on which singlebreast a nursing mother wishes to pump) engages with the tube connectorarrangement within dock port 210 and changes in pressure generated bythe pump are conveyed through the manifold 202 to the tube not connectedto dock port 210. Likewise, the dock port 210 can include a plug membersuch that either tube 212 or tube 216 can connect thereto.

As shown in the cross-sectional view of the manifold of FIG. 4, the tubeconnector arrangement within port 210 includes a sealing ring 304 andlatching component 306, again fully described in patent application Ser.No. 11/581,210, for engagement with plug connector 214 or 218 (here,218). The manifold 202 includes a three-way, or T-shaped or Y-shaped,flow passage 302 to convey the vacuum from the pump to the connector 200and into separate air paths via tube 212 and/or 216 depending on whethersingle or double breast pumping is implemented. The passage 302 is notconnected to port 210.

If double breast pumping is desired, plug member 214 connects tube 212to a first breastpump assembly and plug member 218 connects tube 216 toa second breastpump assembly. Port 210 does not need to be plugged orcapped off since the T-shaped flow passage 302 (see FIG. 5) conveyspressure changes to each tube 212, 216. When single breast pumping isdesired, plug connector 218 is engaged with port 210. Alternatively,plug connector 214 can engage with port 210 depending on which breastthe mother desires to pump.

Once plug connector 218 engages with port 210, port 210 provides apredetermined amount of air leakage to simulate the load of thedisconnected breastshield, so that the single shield pumping suctionlevel is substantially the same to the double pumping vacuum level. Asshown in FIG. 5, two air leakage paths A, B are formed in port 210 suchthat the disconnected breastshield does not, to a great extent,adversely affect vacuum levels transmitted to the operatingbreastshield. Path A leaks air past both the sealing ring 304 andlatching component 306 whereas path B leaks air past the sealing ring304 and between the latching component 306 and plug member 218. Theleaked air travels into from outside the manifold 202. The leaked airmay take any path, including a path through the manifold itself.

It is understood that all shapes and sizes, configurations of the tubeconnector are contemplated by the invention and are considered variousembodiments thereof. It is seen that the objects set forth above, amongthose made apparent from the preceding description, are efficientlyattained and, since certain changes may be made in the aboveconstructions without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understoodthat the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic andspecific features of the invention herein described and all statementsof the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might besaid to fall there between.

1. A connector comprising, a manifold, said manifold including athree-way passageway formed therethrough, said manifold including afirst port, second port, third port and fourth port, said first, secondand third ports being in fluid communication with said three-waypassageway; a first tube connected to and in fluid communication withsaid first port; a second tube connected to and in fluid communicationwith said second port; and a third tube connected to and in fluidcommunication with said third port, wherein said third tube is sized andshaped to be connectable to a vacuum source, and wherein said fourthport is sized and shaped to receive one of said first tube and saidsecond tube and permit a predetermined amount of fluid to pass by way ofa leakage path, wherein said leakage path is formed as a part of saidmanifold in said fourth port.
 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein saidfirst, second and third tubes are non-removably connected to saidmanifold.
 3. The connector of claim 1, wherein said fourth port includesan O-ring disposed therein.
 4. The connector of claim 1, wherein saidthree-way passageway is a T-shaped passageway formed in said manifold.5. The connector of claim 1, wherein said three-way passageway is aY-shaped passageway formed in said manifold.
 6. The connector of claim1, wherein each of said tubes terminate with a plug member.
 7. Theconnector of claim 6, wherein each of said plug members are adapted toconnect with one of said ports to substantially seal said plug memberswith said ports.
 8. The connector of claim 1, wherein said fourth portincludes a plug member.
 9. The connector of claim 8, wherein one of saidfirst tube and second tube is adapted to connect to said plug member ofsaid fourth port.
 10. A connector comprising, a manifold, said manifoldincluding a three-way passageway formed therethrough, said manifoldincluding a first port, second port, third port and fourth port, saidfirst, second and third ports being in fluid communication with saidthree-way passageway; a first tube connected to and in fluidcommunication with said first port and terminating with a first plugmember; a second tube connected to and in fluid communication with saidsecond port and terminating with a second plug member; and a third tubeconnected to and in fluid communication with said third port andterminating with a third plug member, wherein said third plug member issized and shaped to be connectable to a vacuum source, and wherein saidfourth port is sized and shaped to receive one of said first plug memberand said second plug member and permit a predetermined amount of fluidto pass by said plug by way of a leakage path formed as a part of saidmanifold in said fourth port.
 11. The connector of claim 10, whereinsaid first, second and third tubes are non-removably connected to saidmanifold.
 12. The connector of claim 10, wherein said fourth portincludes an O-ring disposed therein.
 13. The connector of claim 10,wherein said three-way passageway is a T-shaped passageway formed insaid manifold.
 14. The connector of claim 10, wherein said three-waypassageway is a Y-shaped passageway formed in said manifold.
 15. Theconnector of claim 10, wherein each of said plug members are adapted toconnect with one of said ports to substantially seal said plug memberswith said ports.